ISAHLUKO 9
“UNkulunkulu Kakhethi”
AmaKhristu aqalisa ukutshumayeza abantu bezinye izizwe abangasokwanga
Isihloko lesi sisekelwe kumiSebenzi 10:1–11:30
1-3. UPhetro wabonani futhi kungani kuqakathekile ukuzwisisa lokho akubonayo?
NGUMNYAKA ka-36 C.E., uPhetro uzwa isikhudumezi ngesikhathi ethandaza esephahleni lwendlu eseduze lolwandle edolobheni leJopha. Uselamalanga eyisethekeli kulowomuzi futhi ukuvuma ukuhlala emzini lo kutshengisa ukuthi uyazama sibili ukungabi lobandlululo. Umnikazi womuzi lo yindoda okuthiwa nguSimoni, engumtshuki wezikhumba futhi malutshwana amaJuda abengavuma ukuhlala lomuntu oyenza umsebenzi lo. a Lanxa kunjalo uPhetro usezafunda isifundo esiqakathekileyo mayelana lokungakhethi kukaJehova.
2 UPhetro uthi esathandaza abone umbono. Umbono lo ungenza loba yiwuphi umJuda owubonayo akhathazeke. UPhetro ubona kusehla okungathi lilembu elikhulu lelineni futhi phakathi kwalo kulezinyamazana ezingahlanzekanga ngokoMthetho kaMosi. Utshelwa ukuthi ahlabe adle inyamazana lezi kodwa yena uphendula athi: “Hatshi Nkosi, mina angikaze ngidle loba yini engcolileyo lengahlambulukanga.” Kathathu konke utshelwa ukuthi: “Yekela ukubiza izinto esezihlanjululwe nguNkulunkulu ngokuthi zingcolile.” (Imiseb. 10:14-16) Umbono lo utshiya uPhetro ephithene ikhanda kodwa kungakayingaphi uyachasiselwa ukuthi utshoni.
3 Umbono owabonwa nguPhetro wawusitshoni? Kuqakathekile ukuthi siwuzwisise ngoba uzasinceda sibone ukuthi uJehova ubabona njani abantu. Phela asingeke senelise ukufakaza ngokugcweleyo ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nxa singababoni ngendlela uNkulunkulu ababona ngayo. Ukuze sizwisise ukuthi umbono lo utshoni, asiqaleni ngokuhlola okunye okwenzakala ngesikhathi uPhetro ebona umbono lo.
‘Yayihlala Ithandaza KuNkulunkulu Imncenga’ (Imiseb. 10:1-8)
4, 5. Wayengubani uKhoneliya futhi kwenzakalani ngesikhathi ethandaza?
4 UPhetro wayengakwazi ukuthi ngelanga elidlulileyo endaweni okuthiwa yiKhesariya eyayiqhelelane leJopha ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-50, kwakulendoda okuthiwa nguKhoneliya eyayibone umbono ovela ezulwini. Indoda le yayingumkhokheli wamasotsha eRoma futhi “yayizinikele kuNkulunkulu.” b Yayinakekela kuhle imuli yayo ngoba “yona labendlu yayo babemesaba uNkulunkulu.” UKhoneliya wayengayisuye mphroselithe, kodwa wayengumuntu wezizweni ongasokanga. Lanxa kunjalo, wayewazwela amaJuda ayengabayanga futhi ewancedisa ngalokho akudingayo. Indoda le eqotho ‘yayihlala ithandaza kuNkulunkulu imncenga.’—Imiseb. 10:2.
5 Ngabo-3 emini, uKhoneliya wathi ethandaza wasebona ingilosi kaNkulunkulu embonweni yathi kuye: “Imithandazo yakho lezipho ozinika abayanga kufikile kuNkulunkulu njalo uhlezi ekukhumbula lokho.” (Imiseb. 10:4) UKhoneliya wenza lokho akutshelwa yingilosi, wathuma abantu ukuthi bayebiza umphostoli uPhetro. Lanxa wayengumuntu wezizweni ongasokanga, uKhoneliya wayesezavulekelwa lithuba elalingakaze litholwe ngumuntu wezizweni. Wayesezakuzwa izindaba ezinhle zensindiso.
6, 7. (a) Nika isibonelo esitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyayiphendula imithandazo yabantu abalesifiso sokufunda iqiniso ngaye. (b) Sifundani endabeni yowesifazana wase-Albania?
6 Lamuhla uNkulunkulu uyayiphendula yini imithandazo yabantu abalesifiso sokufunda iqiniso ngaye? Ake sixoxe ngokunye okwenzakala kowesifazana wase-Albania. UFakazi owayetshumayela endlini ngendlu wamnika iNqabayokulinda eyayilesihloko esikhuluma ngokukhulisa abantwana. c Owesifazana lo wathi: “Ubukwazi yini ukuthi bengivele ngithandaza ngicela ukuthi uNkulunkulu angincedise ngikhulise amadodakazi ami? Nguye okuthumileyo sibili! Unginike khona kanye ebengikudinga!” Umama lo lamadodakazi akhe baqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhili futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi lomkakhe laye waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhili.
7 Okwenzakala kumama lo sokwenzakale kanengi kakhulu endaweni ezitshiyeneyo emhlabeni wonke okokuthi asingeke sithi kuyabe kuphongukwenzakala nje ukuthi uthole umuntu obethandaza. Manje singaphetha ngokuthini? Okokuqala, uJehova uyayiphendula imithandazo yabantu abamdingayo. (1 Amakho. 8:41-43; Hubo. 65:2) Okwesibili, izingilosi ziyasincedisa emsebenzini wokutshumayela.—Isam. 14:6, 7.
‘UPhetro Wayelokhu Esathithibele’ (Imiseb. 10:9-23a)
8, 9. UNkulunkulu wamtshelani uPhetro esebenzisa umoya ongcwele futhi yena wenzani?
8 ‘UPhetro wayelokhu esathithibele’ ecabanga ukuthi umbono ayewubonile wawungabe usitshoni ngesikhathi amadoda avela kuKhoneliya efika lapho ayekhona. (Imiseb. 10:17) Kambe ukuthi uPhetro owayeyale kathathu ukudla ayekubona kungahlanzekanga ngokoMthetho kaMosi, wayezavuma ukuhamba lamadoda la ayengena emzini womuntu wezizweni? UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuthi uPhetro azwisise intando yakhe ngalindaba. Wathi kuPhetro: “Kulamadoda amathathu akudingayo. Ngakho yehla uhambe lawo. Ungathikazi ngitsho lakancane ngoba yimi engiwathumileyo.” (Imiseb. 10:19, 20) Umbono welembu elikhulu lelineni wanceda uPhetro ukuthi avume ukuqondiswa ngumoya ongcwele.
9 Esezwe ukuthi uKhoneliya wayetshelwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi azomdinga uPhetro wangenisa amadoda la ezizweni endlini. (Imiseb. 10:23a) Umphostoli lo olalelayo wayesefunde okunengi ngentando kaNkulunkulu, yikho wayeseqalisile ukulungisa indlela ayebona ngayo abantu bezinye izizwe.
10. UJehova ubakhokhela njani abantu bakhe futhi yiphi imibuzo okumele sizibuze yona?
10 Lalamuhla uJehova ulokhe ebakhokhela abantu bakhe ebancedisa ukuthi bazwisise intando yakhe. (Zaga. 4:18) Uqondisa “inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo” esebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele. (Mat. 24:45) Kwezinye izikhathi singatshelwa ukuthi indlela ebesizwisisa ngayo okuthile eLizwini likaNkulunkulu kumbe ebesisenza ngayo izinto enhlanganisweni isitshintshile. Kuhle ukuzibuza ukuthi, ‘Ngenza njani nxa kungaba lotshintsho olunjalo? Ngiyavuma yini ukuqondiswa ngumoya ongcwele?’
UPhetro “Wabatshela Ukuthi Babhabhathizwe” (Imiseb. 10:23b-48)
11, 12. UPhetro wenzani efika eKhesariya futhi kuyini ayesekufundile?
11 Ngelanga elalandelayo uPhetro lamadoda angu-9 basuka baya eKhesariya. Amadoda amathathu ayethunywe nguKhoneliya ikanti ayisithupha ayengabazalwane abangamaJuda ababehlala eJopha. (Imiseb. 11:12) UKhoneliya wayevele emlindele uPhetro yikho ‘wayebize izihlobo labangane bakhe ayebathanda’ futhi kukhanya bonke abantu laba babe ngabezizweni. (Imiseb. 10:24) Bathi befika uPhetro wenza into ayengeke ayenze kudala kwakhe. Wangena endlini yomuntu wesinye isizwe ongasokanga! UPhetro wachasisa wathi: “Likwazi mhlophe ukuthi akukho emthethweni ukuthi umJuda adlelane lomuntu womunye umhlobo lokuthi amvakatshele. Kodwa uNkulunkulu usengitshengisile ukuthi akumelanga ngibize loba ngubani ngokuthi ungcolile kumbe ngokuthi kahlambulukanga.” (Imiseb. 10:28) Khathesi uPhetro wayesezwisisa ukuthi isifundo okwakumele asifunde embonweni sasingayisiso sokuthi yikuphi ukudla okumele kudliwe kumbe kungadliwa. Kodwa sasingesokuthi ‘akumelanga abize loba ngubani ngokuthi ungcolile kumbe ngokuthi kahlambulukanga [okugoqela lomuntu wezizweni].’
“UKhoneliya wayevele ebalindele, ebize izihlobo labangane bakhe ayebathanda.”—ImiSebenzi 10:24
12 Bonke ababelapho basebethiye indlebe befuna ukuzwa ukuthi uPhetro uzakuthini. UKhoneliya wathi: “Sonke sesikhona phambi kukaNkulunkulu ukuthi sizwe zonke izinto uJehova athe uzikhulume.” (Imiseb. 10:33) Akucabange ukuthi ubungezwa njani nxa umuntu olesifiso sokufunda iBhayibhili ebengatsho amazwi anjengakaKhoneliya. UPhetro waqalisa ngamazwi alamandla athi: “Khathesi sengizwisisa sibili ukuthi uNkulunkulu kakhethi kodwa kuzo zonke izizwe, uyamamukela umuntu omesabayo futhi owenza okulungileyo.” (Imiseb. 10:34, 35) UPhetro wayesekwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu kalandaba lokuthi umuntu ungumhlobo bani, uvela kusiphi isizwe loba okunye nje okunjalo. Yikho wafakaza ngenkonzo kaJesu, ukufa kanye lokuvuswa kwakhe.
13, 14. (a) Ukuphenduka kukaKhoneliya labanye abezinye izizwe ngo-36 C.E. kwahle kwatshengisani? (b) Kungani kungamelanga sahlulele abantu nxa sisekutshumayeleni?
13 Kwenzakala into eyayingakaze yenzakale: “UPhetro wathi esakhuluma,” umoya ongcwele wathululelwa “lasebantwini bezinye izizwe.” (Imiseb. 10:44, 45) Lesi yiso sodwa isikhathi okukhulunywa ngaso eMibhalweni lapho umoya ongcwele owathululelwa khona ebantwini ababengakabhabhathizwa. UPhetro wathi ebona lokhu kusenzakala wahle wananzelela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayesebamukele abantu bezinye izizwe. “Wabatshela ukuthi babhabhathizwe.” (Imiseb. 10:48) Ukuphenduka kwabantu bezinye izizwe ngo-36 C.E. kwatshengisa ukuthi isikhathi sokuthi uNkulunkulu amukele amaJuda kuphela njengezinceku zakhe sasesiphelile. (Dan. 9:24-27) Lapha uPhetro onguye owayekhokhela ngalesosikhathi wasebenzisa ikhiye yesithathu engeyokucina ‘yamakhiye oMbuso wezulu.’ (Mat. 16:19) Ikhiye le yavula ithuba lokuthi abantu bezinye izizwe abangasokanga babe ngamaKhristu agcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele.
14 Lathi lamuhla njengoba sitshumayela izindaba ezinhle siyakwazi ukuthi “uNkulunkulu kakhethi muntu.” (Rom. 2:11) Intando yakhe yikuthi “abantu bemihlobo yonke basindiswe.” (1 Thim. 2:4) Yikho akumelanga sahlulele abantu ngendlela abakhangeleka ngayo kumbe ngokunye nje esikubona ngamehlo. Umsebenzi wethu ngowokufakaza ngokugcweleyo ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu njalo lokho kutsho ukutshumayeza bonke abantu kungelani lokuthi bavela kuliphi ilizwe, bangumhlobo bani, bakhangeleka njani kumbe bakholwani.
“Bayekela Ukuphikisana Laye, Bakhazimulisa UNkulunkulu” (Imiseb. 11:1-18)
15, 16. Kungani amanye amaKhristu angamaJuda amsola uPhetro futhi yena wazivikela njani?
15 UPhetro waya eJerusalema esekulindele ngabomvu ukuyatshela abaphostoli lokho okwakwenzakele kodwa kukhanya basebezwile ukuthi abantu bezinye izizwe labo “basebelamukele ilizwi likaNkulunkulu.” UPhetro wathi efika nje “abantu ababesekela indaba yokusoka baqalisa ukumsola.” Babecatshulwa yikuthi ‘wayengene endlini yabantu abangasokanga wadla labo.’ (Imiseb. 11:1-3) Indaba yayingasikuthi abantu bezinye izizwe akumelanga babe ngamaKhristu. Abafundi abangamaJuda babeqina ngelokuthi abantu bezinye izizwe labo kumele balandele uMthetho, okugoqela ukusoka ukuze uJehova abamukele. Kusegcekeni ukuthi abafundi laba abangamaJuda babelokhu bebambelele eMthethweni kaMosi.
16 UPhetro wayilungisa njani indaba le? KumiSebenzi 11:4-16 wabatshela izinto ezine ezazitshengisa ukuthi wayeqondiswe nguNkulunkulu: (1) umbono ayewubonile (Kuvesi 4 kusiya ku-10); (2) lokho ayekutshelwe ngumoya ongcwele (Kuvesi 11 lo-12); (3) ukuvakatshelwa kukaKhoneliya yingilosi (Kuvesi 13 lo-14); (4) ukuthululwa komoya ongcwele ebantwini bezinye izizwe. (Kuvesi 15 lo-16) UPhetro waphetha ngombuzo olamandla owahle wabaquma imilomo, wathi: “Ngakho nxa uNkulunkulu ebanike isipho samahala asinika sona thina esikholwa eNkosini uJesu Khristu, ngiyini mina ukuthi bengingavimba uNkulunkulu?”—Imiseb. 11:17.
17, 18. (a) Yisiphi isinqumo okwasekumele senziwe ngamaKhristu angamaJuda ngemva kobufakazi bukaPhetro obulamandla? (b) Kungani kungaba nzima ukuthi sihlale simanyene ebandleni futhi yiphi imibuzo okumele sizibuze yona?
17 Ubufakazi bukaPhetro obulamandla benza amaKhristu angamaJuda abona ukuthi kwasekumele enze isinqumo. Ayezalulahla yini ubandlululo amukele amaKhristu la awezinye izizwe ayesanda kubhabhathizwa? Ibhuku lemiSebenzi lithi: “Abazalwane [abaphostoli lamanye amaKhristu angamaJuda] bathi besizwa lokhu bayekela ukuphikisana laye, bakhazimulisa uNkulunkulu besithi: ‘Kutsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu usevumele labantu bezinye izizwe ukuthi baphenduke besebethola ukuphila.’” (Imiseb. 11:18) Lokhu kwenza ukuthi ibandla liqhubeke limanyene.
18 Kungaba ngumqanso sibili ukuhlala simanyene ngoba abantu abakhonza uJehova ngeqiniso bavela “kuzo zonke izizwe, lezizwana, labantu kanye lezindimi.” (Isam. 7:9) Emabandleni amanengi kulabantu bemihlobo etshiyeneyo abavela endaweni ezitshiyeneyo futhi abalamasiko atshiyeneyo. Kumele sizibuze ukuthi: ‘Sengilukhiphile yini ubandlululo enhliziyweni yami? Ngizimisele yini ukungavumeli ukuthi indlela engiphatha ngayo abafowethu labodadewethu iphanjaniswe ngumoya womhlaba lo, ogoqela ukubandlululana ngokuthi umuntu uvela ngaphi, ukhuluma luphi ulimi lokuzigqaja ngamasiko?’ Usakhumbula yini ukuthi uPhetro (uKhefasi) wenzani ngemva kweminyaka abantu bezinye izizwe bephendukile baba ngamaKhristu? Walandela amaKhristu ayelobandlululo futhi “wazehlukanisa labezinye izizwe” waze wakhuzwa nguPhawuli. (Gal. 2:11-14) Yikho lathi kumele sihlale sinanzelela ukuze singabi lobandlululo.
“Abanengi Kakhulu Baba Ngamakholwa” (Imiseb. 11:19-26a)
19. AmaKhristu angamaJuda ase-Antiyokhi aqalisa ukutshumayeza obani futhi aphumelela yini?
19 Abalandeli bakaJesu bahle baqalisa ukutshumayeza abantu bezinye izizwe yini? Nanku okwenzakala e-Antiyokhi yaseSiriya. d Kwakuhlala amaJuda amanengi edolobheni leli kodwa ayengazondani kangako labezinye izizwe, yikho i-Antiyokhi yayiyindawo enhle yokutshumayeza abantu bezinye izizwe. Abafundi abangamaJuda baqalisa ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle ‘ebantwini ababekhuluma isiGrikhi’ e-Antiyokhi yaseSiriya. (Imiseb. 11:20) Babengatshumayezi amaJuda akhuluma isiGrikhi kuphela kodwa labantu bezinye izizwe futhi uJehova wawubusisa umsebenzi wabo okokuthi “abanengi kakhulu baba ngamakholwa.”—Imiseb. 11:21.
20, 21. UBhanabha watshengisa njani ukuthi uthobekile futhi singamlingisela njani?
20 Ibandla elaliseJerusalema lathumela uBhanabha e-Antiyokhi ukuze ayencedisa ukutshumayeza abantu laba ababezimisele ukulalela. Kodwa kukhanya kwakulabantu abanengi ababefuna ukulalela izindaba ezinhle okokuthi wayengeke awenze eyedwa umsebenzi lo. Manje ngubani owayengamncedisa ngcono ukwedlula uSawuli owayekhethwe ukuthi abe ngumphostoli kwabezinye izizwe? (Imiseb. 9:15; Rom. 1:5) Kambe uBhanabha wayezambona njengomuntu ozoncintisana laye ekwenzeni umsebenzi lo? Hatshi. UBhanabha wazithoba yikho waya eThasu wadinga uSawuli wasehamba laye e-Antiyokhi ukuthi ayemncedisa. Bahlala khonale okomnyaka wonke bekhuthaza abafundi ebandleni lelo.—Imiseb. 11:22-26a.
21 Singatshengisa njani ukuthi sithobekile nxa sisenza umsebenzi wokutshumayela? Ngokuvuma ukuthi kulezinto esingenelisi ukuzenza. Phela sileziphiwo ezitshiyeneyo njalo esenelisa ukukwenza akufanani. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye bangabe besenza kuhle ekuhambiseni amabhuku lamabhukwana kodwa bakuthole kunzima ukwenza izimpindelo lokuqalisa izifundo zeBhayibhili. Cela abanye bakuncedise nxa kulendlela yokutshumayela ofisa ukuthuthuka kuyo. Nxa ungenza njalo uzaphumelela kakhulu futhi uthokoze enkonzweni.—1 Khor. 9:26.
Ukuthumela “Okokuncedisa Abazalwane” (Imiseb. 11:26b-30)
22, 23. Abazalwane base-Antiyokhi batshengisa njani ukuthi bayabathanda abanye abazalwane futhi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babalingisela njani lamuhla?
22 Kwaqalisela e-Antiyokhi ukuthi “abafundi babizwe ngokuthi ngamaKhristu.” (Imiseb. 11:26b) Ibizo leli libachaza kuhle abafundi bakaJesu abaphila ngendlela uKhristu ayephila ngayo. Manje njengoba abantu bezinye izizwe labo basebengamaKhristu, kwaba lokumanyana yini phakathi kwamaKhristu angamaJuda lawezinye izizwe? Ake sixoxe ngalokho okwenzakala ngabo-46 C.E. e kuze kube lendlala enkulu eJudiya. Kudala indlala yayijayele ukuhlasela ikakhulu abantu abangabayanga ngoba babeyabe bengelamali kumbe ukudla abakugcinileyo. Yikho ngesikhathi sendlala le amaKhristu angamaJuda ayehlala eJudiya futhi engabayanga ayedinga ukuncediswa sibili. Athi esizwa ngobunzima obasebehlele amaKhristu ayehlala eJudiya, amaKhristu e-Antiyokhi okugoqela amaKhristu ayengawezinye izizwe athumela “okokuncedisa” abazalwane ababehlala eJudiya. (Imiseb. 11:29) Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi abazalwane laba babethandana okuzwayo!
23 Lalamuhla abantu bakaNkulunkulu balokhe besenza okufananayo. Nxa singezwa ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu kweyinye indawo kumbe kwelinye ilizwe badinga ukuncediswa sihle sisukumele phezulu. IKhomithi Yegatsha ihle ibumbe amakhomithi okuncedisa abafowethu labodadewethu abayabe behlelwe yingozi yemvelo kungaba yizikhukhula, ukuzamazama komhlaba kumbe iziphepho. Konke lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi abazalwane bayathandana sibili.—Joh. 13:34, 35; 1 Joh. 3:17.
24. Singatshengisa njani kuthi siyakuzwisisa ukuqakatheka kombono owabonwa nguPhetro?
24 AmaKhristu eqiniso ayakuzwisisa ukuqakatheka kombono owabonwa nguPhetro esephahleni lwendlu eJopha eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-1 900 eyadlulayo. UNkulunkulu esimkhonzayo kakhethi. Intando yakhe yikuthi sifakaze ngokugcweleyo ngoMbuso wakhe okugoqela ukutshumayeza bonke abantu kungelani lokuthi bangumhlobo bani, bavela kuliphi ilizwe kumbe banothile yini. Yikho asizimiseleni ukutshumayeza bonke abantu.—Rom. 10:11-13.
Nxa abafowethu labodadewethu bedinga ukuncediswa sihle sisukumele phezulu sibancedise
a Amanye amaJuda ayemkhangelela phansi umuntu owayesenza umsebenzi lo ngoba wayebamba izikhumba zenyamazana ezifileyo lezinto ezenyanyekayo ayezisebenzisa. Abatshuki bezikhumba babebonwa njengabantu abangahlanzekanga yikho babengavunyelwa ukungena ethempelini, futhi indawo ababesebenzela kuyo kwakumele iqhelelane ledolobho ngamamitha adlula 22. Mhlawumbe yikho indlu kaSimoni ‘yayiseduze kolwandle.’—Imiseb. 10:6.
b Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ UKhoneliya Lebutho LaseRoma.”
c Isihloko lesi sithi “Iseluleko Ongasethemba Sokukhulisa Abantwana,” esaphuma ku-Nqabayokulinda yesiZulu kaNovember 1 2006, ikhasi 4 kusiya ku-7.
d Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ I-Antiyokhi YaseSiriya.”
e Umlobi wezembali ongumJuda okuthiwa nguJosephus uthi “indlala le enkulu” yabakhona ngesikhathi kubusa umbusi okuthiwa nguKlawudiyu (41-54 C.E.).
